Among the many problems facing the Democratic Party, according to former Vice President Al Gore, is the state of the American media.

"The media is kind of weird these days on politics, and there are some major institutional voices that are, truthfully speaking, part and parcel of the Republican Party," said Mr. Gore in an interview with The Observer. "Fox News Network, The Washington Times, Rush Limbaughtheres a bunch of them, and some of them are financed by wealthy ultra-conservative billionaires who make political deals with Republican administrations and the rest of the media . Most of the media [has] been slow to recognize the pervasive impact of this fifth column in their ranksthat is, day after day, injecting the daily Republican talking points into the definition of whats objective as stated by the news media as a whole."

Mr. Gore has been airing his views during a nationwide promotional book tour that marks his re-emergence in public life after a self-imposed exile following his loss in the 2000 Presidential election. Now, as Mr. Gore considers another Presidential campaign, hes determined to confound his ponderous image by unveiling a new Al Goreone who doesnt hesitate, as he puts it, to "let er rip."

Hence his controversial criticisms of President Bushs foreign policy, and his surprise announcement in favor of a government-run universal health-care system. And hence, in a phone interview with The Observer, his extensive criticism of the media, which is hardly a conventional way of launching a national political campaign.

Actually, Mr. Gore may have little reason to hide his views about the media, for his re-emergence, while generating a massive amount of attention, has also inspired ridicule from commentators of all ideological persuasions. Conservatives seemed delighted by his return, remembering his awkward candidacy in 2000, and many liberals have been quite frank in wishing that he would simply disappear.

But Mr. Gore has a bone to pick with his critics: namely, he says, that a systematically orchestrated bias in the media makes it impossible for him and his fellow Democrats to get a fair shake. "Something will start at the Republican National Committee, inside the building, and it will explode the next day on the right-wing talk-show network and on Fox News and in the newspapers that play this game, The Washington Times and the others. And then theyll create a little echo chamber, and pretty soon theyll start baiting the mainstream media for allegedly ignoring the story theyve pushed into the zeitgeist. And then pretty soon the mainstream media goes out and disingenuously takes a so-called objective sampling, and lo and behold, these R.N.C. talking points are woven into the fabric of the zeitgeist."

And during a lengthy discourse on the history of political journalism in America, Mr. Gore said he believed that evolving technologies and market forces have combined to lower the medias standards of objectivity. "The introduction of cable-television news and Internet news made news a commodity, available from an unlimited number of sellers at a steadily decreasing cost, so the established news organizations became the high-cost producers of a low-cost commodity," said Mr. Gore. "Theyre selling a hybrid product now thats news plus news-helper; whether its entertainment or attitude or news thats marbled with opinion, its different. Now, especially in the cable-TV market, it has become good economics once again to go back to a party-oriented approach to attract a hard-core following that appreciates the predictability of a right-wing point of view, but then to make aggressive and constant efforts to deny thats what theyre doing in order to avoid offending the broader audience that mass advertisers want. Thus the Fox slogan We Report, You Decide, or whatever the current version of their ritual denial is."

"We understand that Gore is frustrated," said R.N.C. spokesman Kevin Sheridan. "Hes the leader of a party without a message. But if he thinks that the Republican National Committee can control the American media, then perhaps he needs a break from the book tour."

A spokesman for The Washington Times didnt return calls for comment. Rush Limbaugh was traveling and not available for comment.

A Left Hook

Of course, some of the harshest criticisms of Mr. Gore have come from distinctly non-conservative quarters. Mr. Gore seemed particularly stung, for example, by an op-ed written by Frank Rich of The New York Times, suggesting that his new spontaneity was a charade. "When people write a line like one that I read this morningquote, People do not change, period, end quotewell, theres a difference between learning from experience and self-reinvention," Mr. Gore said. "People do change, particularly in America. If you dont learn from the experiences you have in life, then youre not trying very hard, and if you dont make mistakes, youre not human . If people who make their living criticizing anybody and everybody want to add me to their list, thats all right. Hell, theyve got to make a living."

Democrats sympathetic to Mr. Gore frequently maintain that "political insiders"the media, big donors, professional politicianspaint an overly pessimistic picture of his viability as a candidate and suggest that his position has been strengthened by the partys poor showing in the midterm elections several weeks ago. "There are all these people in the party who have been adamant that we need a fresh face," said Joe Andrew, who headed the Democratic National Committee during the Clinton administration. "I think a lot of those people are taking another look at Al Gore now, saying that, Well, at least theres someone out there with big ideas, who looks good on TV, who looks more comfortable with himself. I think its simply a fundamental reaction to the sense that he is a serious candidate with serious ideas."

But while Mr. Gore has a solid core of support, many Democrats do want a fresh face to take on George W. Bush in 2004. The same formal and informal polls that show Mr. Gore with substantially larger backing than any other Democratic hopeful also show that a great many donors, opinion makers and party leaders are uncommittedand leaning toward Anyone But Gore.

Its possible that no amount of criticism will keep Mr. Gore out of the race, but theres little question that "Gore fatigue" already has become a rallying point for his potential opponents. "At this point, people are uniformly looking for a different face and a different agenda, an agenda that requires a backbone," Vermont Governor Howard Dean, a potential Democratic contender, told The Observer.

Asked about Mr. Gores efforts to make a fresh start as a straight-talking, independent-minded Democrat, Mr. Dean said, "I think it will be kind of a tough job for someone who was a sitting Vice President to call himself an outsider."

Mr. Gore acknowledged his image problem among powerful Democrats, and that the onus will be upon him to recapture the loyalties of those who supported him in 2000. "Maybe I bear the blame for some of it," he said. "I havent been very good about calling all of the insiders over the last two years, and maybe some of them have a beef with me because of that. I know they have been courted assiduously by some of the others who are considering a run for the White House, and it may be that some of them have already signed up with other people. If I do decide to run again, I think theres a lot of support, but Id also have to work really hard to get a bunch of them committed back to me."

Mr. Gore also reckoned that he would have to prove himself all over again to key political and media players. "Im well aware that the political insiders and political-journalism community have a considerable amount of influence, and even though Im stronger at the grassroots level, I think that if I did run again, I would have to convince those two groups that Ive learned enough in the last couple of years to run a better campaign than I did last time. I dont think that theres a thing that I could say and no words I could choose that could accomplish thatthe way to convince them would be in actually doing it."

For now, Mr. Gore can only attempt to explain what motivates the ceaseless lampooning he continues to face from Americas columnists and commentators. "Thats postmodernism," he offered. "Its the combination of narcissism and nihilism that really defines postmodernism, and thats another interview for another time, if youre interested in it.

There was a guy I went to high school with, a friend in our relatively large clique who never missed an opportunity to lie about something, usually a big and stupid, totally unbelievable lie. Like the time he ripped his KISS bandanna directly off of Paul Stanley's leg at the concert (he found it on the ground outside), and on and on. We called him Ely, cuz 'e lies!! Gore is much worse, and much more shrill. The big whopper from my friend is once he said 'You dont have to lie to keep friends." I guess he knew from experience.

I wonder what Algore's (or Tipper's) response would be if a reporter ever asked them if they thought that lying was acceptable? If they ever got within 50 feet of a reporter that asks decent questions, that is...JFK

"Something will start at the Republican National Committee, inside the building, and it will explode the next day on the right-wing talk-show network and on Fox News and in the newspapers that play this game, The Washington Times and the others. And then theyll create a little echo chamber, and pretty soon theyll start baiting the mainstream media for allegedly ignoring the story theyve pushed into the zeitgeist. And then pretty soon the mainstream media goes out and disingenuously takes a so-called objective sampling, and lo and behold, these R.N.C. talking points are woven into the fabric of the zeitgeist."

The world according to Gore--Fox news is not the mainstream media, despite having the highest ratings of any cable news chanel. And Republican ideas have no legitimate place in the "fabric of the zeitgeist". Zeitgeist. A real man of the people that Algore.

Man what an idiot. Kinda funny how he says this as Rush goes out of town.

Secondly, Gore is so upset about FOX, yet I dont remember him getting upset over the Turner/CNN days. This is how these people deal with jealousy. Next thing you'll hear them trying to push another "fair media doctrine"...oh wait, they cant...THEY HAVE NO POWER! Bwahhahahahahah

For now, Mr. Gore can only attempt to explain what motivates the ceaseless lampooning he continues to face from Americas columnists and commentators. "Thats postmodernism," he offered. "Its the combination of narcissism and nihilism that really defines postmodernism, and thats another interview for another time, if youre interested in it."

Uh, yeah, Al. If we should decide we're interested, we'll call ya.

What the heck was that answer about? Trying to prove he can pronounce words George W. Bush probably can't? That oughta garner about six more votes. 531 to go.

It's funny how Democrats accuse Republicans of things they are experts at themselves. His minute detailing of the alleged way Republicans get their points across is a beautiful description of the way Democrats get their talking points in the media. The DNC sends talking points to the NY Times. The NY Times conducts a "push" poll to get the predictable results they want. Then they write about the poll in the front page of the NY Times. The same day the story gets picked up by the Washington Post, CNN, NPR, ABC, NBC, etc. who are the actual mainstream media ... and voila! We have brainwashing of the American people.

Democrats have had it so good for so long, they just cannot stand that they have no longer a monopoly in the media, and because of the small percentage of the media that is now conservative, it looks to them (comparing it to the total monopoly they had) as if the entire media is now conservative!

That's probably one of THE most revealing gore rants. He's certifiable and why he isn't in a rubber room, now, is quite beyond me. That being said, I pray to GOD, that he runs against President Bush in 2004 ! I do so enjoy a Dem bloodbath, at election time. LOL

"Fox News Network, The Washington Times, Rush Limbaughtheres a bunch of them, and some of them are financed by wealthy ultra-conservative billionaires who make political deals with Republican administrations and the rest of the media . WHAT DEALS??? THE MEDIA HAS DONE EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO TRY AND DESTROY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!! BUT, I MUST SAY
"BETTER THE WEALTHY ULTRA CONSERVATIVE BILLIONARES THAN CHINA, MR. ALBORE!!!!" (AND I DON'T REMEMBER HIM OR HIS PREVIOUS CRONIES EVER BEING POOR!!!)

For now, Mr. Gore can only attempt to explain what motivates the ceaseless lampooning he continues to face from Americas columnists and commentators. "Thats postmodernism," he offered. "Its the combination of narcissism and nihilism that really defines postmodernism, and thats another interview for another time, if youre interested in it.

Good Grief!! Hey Al, get a grip on things.

I would love to hear Gore's explanation of how "postmodernism" is the cause is Rush, Hannity et al. lampooning his ridiculous comments and behavior. Well, I guess that we will will have to wait since brainiac did not want to elaborate on that comment during this interview.

How ironic that Gore's definition of postmodernism describes "zeitgeist" the Clinton era all too well.

He sort of reminds you of the one person who can't quite figure out that when the guests have all gone home and the snack tray has been put back in the kitchen that it's time to go home. Of course, we've known that since November 2000. He's no SoreLoser - He's GoreLoser.

You all had to know that it's the VRWC. I think that Hitlery Clintoon would make a perfect running mate. The perfect motto would be, "Two Whores for the price of one." I hope this isn't to far over the top, but I think this whole thing is just as funny as it can be.

I think ALGORE wants to get his ratings down below 5%. I don't get the new Dim straegy to attack Rush Limbaugh and the so-called "right wing" press. I guess the Dims are used to owning the media that they have to whine and complain now that they have opposition.

Can Algore answer to why Viacommie CBS-VH1-MTV edited out the boos that Her Satanic Majesty Hillary received at the Concert For NYC? Boos that were replaced with CHEERS and the past forever changed with a video release with such deception?

When he got to the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy bankrolling all of these news sources, he revealed that he can't see the forest for the trees. "Bush Country" meant nothing to him. The Rats' strategy of going farther to the left to win them over is another tactic that will blow up in their faces.

"Thats postmodernism," he offered. "Its the combination of narcissism and nihilism that really defines postmodernism...

>What the heck was that answer about?

Who knows? (Sounds sort of like he was talking about museum art with all the "isms".) It also reminds me of hillary on Hardball last week. She turned her hecklers' negative comments around to her own advantage. from article...

Clinton seemed unfazed by the outbursts. "It's great to see all of this energy," she said.

It's really difficult for these leftists to admit any sort of defeat, isn't it? (...unless, of course, they can blame someone else for it.)

Postmodernism ended the day 2 planes were maliciously flown into the WTC towers. Educated types have declared this. Whiney Mr. Gore will need to find another excuse while he is still belittled by the press and public.

...that is, day after day, injecting the daily Republican talking points into the definition of whats objective as stated by the news media as a whole."

The "news media as a whole" certainly aren't objective. Watch the election results come in. Watch them slip up and say "that's another for us" when a Democrat takes a national victory. Also watch some footage of the 2000 election returns. See the talking heads all choked up and on the verge of tears when Algore conceded the election. Then watch their renewed energy when Algore took back that concession. Objective? Yeah, like Pravda.

As to talking points. The DNC used to post their day's talking points on their website with the tactics to pull as to how to get on talk radio. The website has been redesigned (most info appears to now come through email lists). I don't think that they have ended this practice, just moved it out of the spotlight.

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.